Almost half in Va. oppose health bill
Published: October 13, 2009
Nearly half of Virginia voters oppose President Barack Obama’s health care initiative, according to a Daily Progress poll, which also shows his popularity here fading.
Forty-nine percent are against the Obama program, while 39 percent favor it and 12 percent are undecided.
The poll, conducted for The Daily Progress last Tuesday to Thursday by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, indicates eight in 10 voters fear that a defining feature of the Obama proposal — a public option for health insurance — will drive up their taxes.
In the Shenandoah/Piedmont region, which includes the Charlottesville area, 57 percent of respondents said they opposed Obama’s health care proposal, while 35 percent said they supported it, and 8 percent were undecided.
Paired with findings that show Republicans ahead for the three statewide offices, the results on health care reflect a political landscape that has quickly tilted to the GOP following a lengthy Democratic ascendancy.
And in a possible sign of political repercussions for the state’s Democratic U.S. senators, 49 percent say they would disapprove of Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner backing the Obama health care package.
Webb has expressed some support for a government-supplied alternative to private insurance. Warner has yet to take a position, but has urged a solution on health care that does not increase the deficit.
Obama, the first Democrat to carry the state for president since 1964, is now viewed favorably by 44 percent of Virginia voters. That’s down from 49 percent last November. Obama’s unfavorable rating remains 41 percent.
The poll is based on telephone interviews with 625 registered voters (95 in the Shenandoah/Piedmont region) who say are likely to cast ballots Nov. 3. Results could vary 4 percentage points in either direction.
The poll was conducted in the run-up to this week’s vote by the Senate Finance Committee on a health care overall that does not include a public option. Neither Virginian is a member of the panel, whose vote is the next major obstacle for the Obama effort.
A closer look at the poll’s findings:
- 57 percent oppose a public-option, government-run insurance program as part of health care reform, while 30 favor it, and 13 percent are undecided.
- 48 percent oppose requiring all Americans to have health insurance, while 39 percent believe coverage should be mandatory. Thirteen percent are undecided.
- 81 percent say health care reform will lead to higher taxes to cover its estimated 10-year, $1 trillion cost. Seven percent say the initiative will not push up taxes, and 12 percent are not sure.
- 52 percent believe health care reform will result in the rationing of health care, while 29 percent think otherwise. Nineteen percent are not sure.
- 51 percent say health care reform will force major cuts in Medicare, a federal program that provides health and medical service for seniors. Thirteen percent say it will not cause reductions in Medicare, and 18 percent don’t know.
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Reader Reactions
You tell it to them Gordie!
The person who is clueless is the one who writes others are clueless.
The Medicare cuts will mostly be the Advantage programs run by Humana and Secure Horizon and others. Those insurance companies rake in over 50 billion yearly to manage Medicare for some people.
Yes twinmom you are protecting the insurance industries profits again. You along with the Republican’s in congress.
BUT, lets get to the heart of this article. Just whom does Mason Dixon always poll? Likely senior voters. Those who are clueless and listen to Rush Baby every day. The only place they get their news. Just what does the Daily Progress expect with a polling organization like that.
In 2005 Mason Dixon had Kaine losing by 5%, yet who has been Governor for the last 4 years.
In 2008 Mason Dixon had Obama losing VA. Guess who is president and won VA?
This year Mason Dixon have Deeds trailing by 8%. A race that will come down to the wire and is toss up.
Mason Dixon is clueless and always has been a Republican leaning polling institution. It’s how the question is asked and of whom that makes them clueless and rakes in others money.
Let them eat cake.
“Thirteen percent say it will not cause reductions in Medicare, and 18 percent don’t know.“
These 31% are certainly clueless. One of the prime features of all of the various proposals are cuts to Medicare, and it is these “savings” that are supposed to be used in large part to pay for insuring the uninsured. That, and teh projection that we will all save money because people will be healthier once they have insurance and won’t need as much medical care. We know how that idea has played out with MediCAID for the poor. They are the biggest consumers of expensive healthcare, because it is free!
It’s incredible that there are even 2 in 10 Virginians who don’t think taxes will be raised to cover the costs of the health insurance mandate. Amazing.
This kind of reporting is exactly why we can’t get anywhere as a country. This poll, that only talked to 600 plus people of a defined category (registered voters who say they will vote) are trying to tell us that their poll has value in accessing what people actually think on this issue? I would bet dimes to dollars that less than 10% of the people polled actually have any knowledge at all regarding the current version of the healthcare billed being considered. The only know what they have read in the press, at most. And, most of what has been reported in the press is nothing more than what you could get from watching the “Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour” on Saturday morning. Sad.
Thanks for supporting this poll, Daily Progress!
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